Extraction device for machines for casting continuous metal ingots

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines, comprising an extraction unit for separating the ingot from the casting wheel of a casting machine and partially straightening such ingot, said separation unit being mounted on a support mounted by the side of the casting wheel for rotation therewith, transmission means being provided to cause a partial rotation of said support when it is desired to adjust the position of said extraction unit.

United States Patent Ilario Properzi {72] Inventor Via V. Pisani 8,Milan, Italy [21] Appl. No. 860,759 [22] Filed Sept. 24, 1969 [45]Patented Dec. 21,1971 [32] Priority. Oct. 4, 1968 [33] Italy [31] 22096M68 [54] EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR MACHINES FOR CASTING CONTINUOUS METALINGOTS 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 164/344, 164/278, 164/404 [51] Int. Cl. 822d 11/06 [50]Field of Search 164/401- 407,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 379,137 3/1888 Stover164/276 1,996,905 4/1935 Davis...... 164/263 X 2,139,215 12/1938 Wasson2,206,930 7/1940 Webster 164/278x 2,393,213 1/1946 Willard..... 164/2632,659,949 11/1953 Pl'OpBl'Zl... 164/278 2,710,433 6/1955 Pl'Opel'Zl...164/278 2,749,584 6/1956 Fey 164/278 3,284,859 11/1966 COl'llOn.164/268X 3,322,184 5/1967 COfel' 164/278X 3,351,126 11/1967 Richards164/282x FOREIGN PATENTS 536,316 1/1957 Canada 164/278 PrimaryExaminer-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. BrownAttorneys-Guido Modiano and Albert .losif ABSTRACT: This disclosurerelates to an extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines,comprising an extraction unit for separating the ingot from the castingwheel of a casting machine and partially straightening such ingot, saidseparation unit being mounted on a support mounted by the side of thecasting wheel for rotation therewith, transmission means being providedto cause a partial rotation of said support when it is desired to adjustthe position of said extraction unit. 1

15mm 0W SHEET NF 2 INVENTOR ILARIO PROPERZ' TENTEU nEm SHEET 2 [1F 2INVENTOR ILAREO PROPERZI AGENT EXTRACTION IIIIEVICIE FOII MACHINES lfGIiGASTING CONTINUOUS li/IIE'IAL INGG'IS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to a device for the extraction of continuousmetal ingots, particularly of copper, aluminum, lead, zinc etc.,produced by a continuous casting machine.

As is known a machine for casting continuous metal ingots comprises awheel which peripherally carries a groove or mould having a profilecorresponding to the section of the ingots which it is desired toobtain. Along slightly more than half of the periphery of this wheelthere is wound a steel tape arranged to cover said groove and move incontact together with the wheel, said tape passing over transmissionpulleys.

The molten metal is poured into the groove or mould, by means of asuitable crucible feeder, adjacent the point in which the steel tapebegins to cover the mould. After adequate cooling, in its travel alongthe portion of the groove or mould covered by the steel tape, the metalis extracted in the form of a continuous ingot adjacent the point inwhich the steel tape leaves the casting wheel.

The extraction of the continuous ingot takes place with the aid of anexpulsion unit which is secured adjacent the casting wheel and comprisesa roller on which the ingot comes to rest as it is progremivelyproduced. The ingot is thus carried away from the casting wheel and issubjected to a partial straightening due to the fact that the ingot iscaused to pass on the roller of the expulsion unit which is arranged ata suitable distance from the point at which the tape leaves the castingwheel.

The position of the extraction unit must be accurately fixed so that thedesired straightening takes place without the occurrence of cracks orother damage to the surfaces of the ingots formed. In reality it isextremely difficult to arrange the extraction unit in the most suitableposition since sometimes a slight displacement from the ideal positionis sufficient to cause even considerable imperfections in the ingots andconsequent defects in the articles produced from these ingots. In factthe most suitable position of the extractor unit must be established onthe basis of the type of metal or alloy employed to form the ingots, thecross section of the ingots, the temperature of the ingots at the momentin which they leave the casting wheel and the speed of advance of theingots. Moreover, these conditions may vary during casting so that it isvery difficult to find the exact adjustment. Usually trials are made,displacing the extraction unit from time to time, but this necessitatesstopping the casting, slackening the locking means of the unit and thesuccessive locking of the unit when the new position is reached.

In fact, considerable time losses are experienced and wastes andimperfections may take place in the production.

The main object of the present invention is that of eliminating thedisadvantages indicated above by providing a device which readilyenables an accurate adjustment of the extraction unit associated to thecasting wheel, either when the casting machine is in operation or whenit is stationary, and which does not necessitate the demounting ofparts.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a device of readyapplication and simple manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided anextraction device for continuous ingot casting machines, comprising anextraction unit for separating the ingot from the casting wheel and atleast partially straightening said ingot as it is progressively formed,characterized in that said extraction unit is secured on a platelikesupport mounted at the side of said casting wheel for coaxial rotationwith the latter, transmission means being provided to cause a partialrotation of said platelike support for positioning said extraction unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further characteristics and advantagesof the invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of an extraction device accordingto the invention for continuous ingot casting machines, illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of the extractiondevice according to the invention applied to a continuous castingmachine;

FIG. 2 is an axial section of the same extraction device arrangedadjacent the casting wheel of the casting machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an extraction unit forming part of theextraction device;

FIG. A is a plan view of an extraction unit forming part of theextraction device; and

FIG. 5 shows the control member of the extraction device.

With reference to such figures, the extraction device according to theembodiment comprises an extraction unit I secured cantilever-wise on aplatelike support member 2 having a substantially circular sector shapeand mounted for rotation coaxially to the casting wheel 3, by the sideof the latter.

As is clearly shown in FIG. ll, the casting wheel 3 is provided with aperipheral groove or mould having a profile corresponding to the crosssection of the ingot which it is desired to obtain, and a steel tape 5is wound on said wheel so as to cover said groove t along slightly morethan half the circumference of the wheel 3. By means of a knownarrangement, the steel tape 3 leaves the casting wheel 3 adjacenttransmission rollers ti and 7.

The extraction unit I fixed to the sectorlike plate support 2 comprisesa stripper push-rod member 8 which is arranged inclined with its endportion in contact. with the bottom of the mould d (FIG. 3). Thestripper member 3 is followed by a roller 9 which projects outward withrespect to the member 3 and is mounted for idle rotation about a shaftparallel to the shaft of the casting wheel 3. Said roller 9 is designedto engage the ingot III (FIG. I) as the latter is progressively formed.

The extraction unit I further comprises a plurality of diaphragms II(indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3) between which there are arrangedlubricating buffers (not shown) which are arranged to contact theprofile of the mould A.

The push-rod member ti has a profile which is shaped so as to mate withthat of the mould I, for instance a tongue-shaped end, as is clearlyshown in FIGS. 2 and A.

The platelike support 2 has a large hole adjacent the shaft of the wheel3 and is secured, adjacent such hole, to an annular body 12 (FIG. 2)which is internally provided with a tapered portion 112a arranged toslidingly penetrate a circular groove I3a formed in a central fixed bodyI3. Through the body I3 there passes a hollow shaft lid on which thereis keyed the casting wheel 3 while in the cavity of the hollow shaft Mthere is caused to pass a pipe I5 for supplying cooling water to radialpipes to.

In FIG. 2 there is also visible a gear I7 fast with the casting wheel 3for the rotation of the latter, and roller bearings lid and 113.

On the side of the platelike support 2 there projects a peripheralarcuated portion 20 having a radially inner and a radially outer face.On this inner face there is provided a toothing Ell which extendstherefore along a circular arc having its center on the axis of castingwheel 3 and a length corresponding to the peripheral length of theportion 20. Said toothing 2i meshes with a toothed pinion 22 which isrotated by an electric motor 23 through a reduction unit 23 (FIG. 5

In FIG. I there is also diagrammatically indicated in 23 a device forthe casting metal to be transformed into continuous ingots.

The working of the extraction device will now be described.

When the casting wheel 3 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in FIG.1 and molten metal is poured into mould A by the device 25, a continuousingot is formed which is continuously cooled by cooling devicesassociated to the casting wheel. In the initial phase the just formedingot engages the push-rod member h which separates it from the wheel 3and causes it to pass to the roller 9; from this moment the continuousingot will pass onto the roller 9 without further touching the member 8,as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 1.

The effect of the extraction unit 1 is that of suitably increasing theradius of curvature of the ingot 10 as it gradually forms, so that theingot is subjected to a straightening action which is subsequentlycompleted by other apparatus, not shown in the drawing.

The extraction unit 1 can rotate in either direction and actuate themotor 23, for example by means of a pushbutton ar ranged on the controlboard. The motor43 causes the rotation, through the reduction unit 24,of the pinion 22 which meshes with the toothing 21, so that theplatelike support 2, and the unit 1 therewith, rotates about the shaftof the casting wheel 3.

In this way it is possible to continuously displace the extractor unitI, both when the machine is stationary and when it is in operation,until the most suitable position for a straightening of the desiredextent is reached. It is also possible to intervene promptly during theworking of the machine to eliminate possible cracks or otherimperfections in the surface of the continuous ingot since such defectsnormally occur as a result of the incorrect positioning of theextraction unit 1.

The adjustment of the extraction unit can consequently be carried outvery readily by the operator of the casting machine.

As may be noted, the extraction device according to the inventionensures the perfect working of the casting machine since it enablesaccurate rapid adjustments to be effected without necessitating thedemounting or stoppage of the machine.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications andvariations may be effected within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. An extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines forseparating the ingot from the peripheral groove of the rotatable castingwheel and at least partially straightening said ingot leaving saidperipheral groove, including an extraction unit with a stripper memberhaving a tongue-shaped end penetrating into said groove and a rollermounted above said stripper member for engaging the ingot leaving saidgroove, and means for displacing said extraction unit around saidperipheral groove, wherein according to the improvement said extractionunit further comprises a sectorlike plate element rigidly holding saidstripper member and said roller arranged at least at one side of thecasting wheel and pivotable around the axis of rotation thereof, anarcuated peripheral portion of said sectorlike plate element projectingsidewards thereof and having a radially inner and a radially outer face,a toothing provided on said radially inner face and extending forsubstantially the entire peripheral length of said peripheral portionand wherein said means for displacing said extraction unit comprise atoothed pinion engaging said toothing and means for rotating saidpinion.

1. An extraction device for continuous ingot casting machines forseparating the ingot from the peripheral groove of the rotatable castingwheel and at least partially straightening said ingot leaving saidperipheral groove, including an extraction unit with a stripper memberhaving a tongue-shaped end penetrating into said groove and a rollermounted above said stripper member for engaging the ingot leaving saidgroove, and means for displacing said extraction unit around saidperipheral groove, wherein according to the improvement said extractionunit further comprises a sectorlike plate element rigidly holding saidstripper member and said roller arranged at least at one side of thecasting wheel and pivotable around the axis of rotation thereof, anaRcuated peripheral portion of said sectorlike plate element projectingsidewards thereof and having a radially inner and a radially outer face,a toothing provided on said radially inner face and extending forsubstantially the entire peripheral length of said peripheral portionand wherein said means for displacing said extraction unit comprise atoothed pinion engaging said toothing and means for rotating saidpinion.